If ever a topic will get people worked up, it is the Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) program. This extremely generous program allows service members who are still serving to transfer some or all of their education benefits to their spouse or child(ren.) As with anything government, the program has some inequities and there are a myriad of important details. The most important things you need to know are:
1. All transfers of benefits must be done before you begin your terminal leave. I recommend you do a transfer as soon as you are eligible. You can always revoke or modify the transfer later, but once you miss the opportunity to initiate a transfer, the opportunity is gone forever.
2. You must have at least six years of eligible service, and agree to serve an additional four years, unless precluded by policy or statute.
3. Transfers of eligibility are done via the MilConnect website. You can log in using your DFAS/MyPay login information, your DoD Self-Service login, or a CAC card. Once in the MilConnect website, click on the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) link. A screen will generate that includes all your eligible beneficiaries.
4. Select an amount of benefit to transfer to each person, from a minimum of one month per person up to a total of 36 months of benefits. I recommend you transfer 1 month to each eligible beneficiary – you can always modify or revoke your transfer later. Better to err on the side of caution and maximize your flexibility.
5. You MUST return to the TEB website at a later time to ensure that your transfer was accepted. At this point, you can print off a copy of the accepted transfer. This is your permanent record that the transfer was processed.
As you may know, I think that the transferrability of the Post 9/11 GI Bill is a costly gift that our country can not actually afford, and I think that the benefits will be eroded over time. Therefore, I recommend that you use it quickly, either for yourself, your spouse, or a child that is going to college in the immediate future. On the other hand, if you are nearing separation or retirement, it might benefit you to wait until you’ve left active duty so that you or your spouse can collect the BAH benefit.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is an amazing benefit of military service – be sure you can take the most possible advantage of it.
What happens to us service members who were never given an orientation about this benefit and we found out after we retired. I thought some people in congress were trying to help us get this benefit back???
Eugenia, I have been criticized for saying this, but it is true. This program was announced via every possible avenue, including print media (Military Times newspapers, association magazines, base papers, Stars and Stripes), internet (Military.com, DoD websites, the VA website, forums, message boards, etc.) and announcements and briefs in workplaces. I actually heard about it on the very same day it was announced, second or third hand from someone who heard about it at their workplace that day. In addition, the program didn't even begin on the day it was announced but rather it was announced well over a month before it went into effect on 1 August 2009.
The military tries very, very hard to make sure that each and every service member is aware of each and every benefit that is available, and somehow there are people that don't get the message. This program has been fully explained in transition assistance briefs since it was announced. I don't know what else the military could reasonably do.
There is some sentiment that the program rules should be changed in order to help retirees such as yourself. However, in this time of fiscal crises, it seems highly unlikely that such an expensive change will happen. In addition, education benefits have always been a recruiting and retention tool. There is no recruiting and retention value in allowing retirees to go back and access a program that they failed to access when it would have be effective for retention. I would be very surprised if it becomes an option for retirees to retroactively transfer their benefits.
I'm sorry that you were unable to transfer your benefits. You certainly can still use these generous benefits for your own education. You can also help educate younger troops so that they understand all of their benefits.
I appreciate you taking the time to answer my comment. Thank you! And believe me I am informing every person I know that is joining the service now of all the benefits they are entitled to and also to further inform themselves of any new changes. My daughter’s husband and my niece’s husband have joined the service since my retirement last year. Which I am very happy for!! If I would die and come back as a child once again, believe me, I would join the military and do it all over again!!! It runs through my veins. And I was the first in my family to sign up for the Armed Forces!! Unfortunately,
when this benefit came out I was going from one psychiatric hospital to another in 2009,
including suicide attempts on my life, plus
several electrical shock treatments to my brain and I was homebound, locked in my
bedroom all the time, with my family taking
turns to take me to the doctors and hospitals
and watching out for me. I didn’t even
receive a visit at home from anybody in the
military!! I was never even sent to go to a retirement orientation!! They sent me to a medical board and a few months later I was retired. Right now I’m just happy I was able to serve my country for over 20 years active service and was honorably discharged, even though it was with medical disabilities. I don’t know how I’ll feel when I wake up each day and it hurts me to know I have to take all
kinds of medications to get by each day. But one thing is for sure; I love the great nation I served and would do it all over again, even though sometimes some people in the system fails us. God Bless America!!!!
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The VA Regional Office at Muskogee OK 74402 likes to give RED TAPE to the Soldiers.
The CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY is NEVER sent to the Soldiers, or to the Dependents.
If you were within 90 days of retirement after 01 August 2009, then you can present your case to the Army Review board. They have given some approvals and in light of your situation, they just might approve your missed benifit. If your retirement is beyond 90 days from 01 August 2009, then there is nothing you can do.